Stores set to open in Millennium Station

April 22, 2006

CHICAGO — South Shore and Electric Line riders will soon be able to pick up flowers, ice cream or some chocolates at Millennium Station at Randolph Street. Retail outlets are expected to begin opening their doors next month, officials said Friday.

A firm Metra hired to manage the property has signed leases with three stores--Millennium News, City Scents florist and Sweet Tooth Cafe--giving commuters the most shopping options they've had in the underground station in a decade. The new retail outlets could open as soon as the end of May, according to a property manager for Beitler Co., which Metra hired last year to manage the station and lease 16,000 square feet of retail space.

Beitler Co. also has letters of intent from a brand name coffee retailer, Cinnabon cinnamon roll store and Subway sandwich shop, Metra Executive Director Philip Pagano told the agency's board Friday. Negotiations are under way with Bath & Body Works, Chase Bank and a video and game rental store, he added.

The opening of retail outlets is the final step in the $22 million, delayed-plagued rehabilitation of the facility, which used to be known as the Randolph Street Station. Pagano said the leases are exceeding Metra's expectations and could generate $250,000 for the agency this year, $44,000 more than Metra officials expected.